Stuart Skelton (Siegmund), Margaret Jane Wray (Sieglinde), and Janice Baird (Brünnhilde). © Chris Bennion photo

On with the "Ring" cycle (see above post). Wagner's four-opera epic continued last night with the opening of "Die Walkure," to a rock-concert-style audience reception. The five-hour opera sustained the magic of the sets and special effects, while the music was outstanding and the acting mostly good.

Highlights were the set for Act I, with Hunding's house crouched Hobbit-style in a tangled, lowering forest, and the stark misty rock that was home base for the Valkyries, the flying female goddesses who fight at human battles and bring the dead to Valhalla. Singing-wise, Stephanie Blythe as Fricka took the prize, developing her role as chief goddess with might, morality and a phenomenally powerful voice. Stuart Skelton made a wild, tensely-wound Siegmund with astounding breath control. Margaret Jane Wray was a let-down as Sieglinde, a lovely voice but wimpy character. Janice Baird filled all expectations as a gutsy Brunnhilde, mischievous and full of life, and convincingly despairing at the fire-filled end.

The members of the Seattle Symphony played, for the most part, excellently, with tight brass and a lyrical cello/bass section (including a very beautiful Act I cello solo.) A disappointment was Robert Israel's costumes for the Valkyries: matching the other naturalistic robes, they were just too muted-green to live up to the fierce glee which these nine women brought to the roles. And the wings on the helmets were just long enough to look, unfortunately, like bishops' miters or nuns' wimples - not exactly warrior fashion.

The cycle continues with "Siegfried" on Wednesday, but tonight I'm going to "Das Barbecu," the ACT spoof about what the Norse gods do off-stage down on the ranch in Texas.

Dates for "Ring" performances are: “Das Rheingold”: 7 p.m. Aug. 17 and 25; “Die Walkure”: 6 p.m. Aug. 18 and 26; “Siegfried”: 6 p.m. Aug. 12, 20 and 28; “Gotterdammerung”: 6 p.m. Aug. 14, 22 and 30
Information: 206-389-7676, 800-426-1619, www.seattleopera.org

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...David Mackey. The Film Festival, which runs at The Grand Cinema from Oct. 1-8, holds an annual competition to see who gets to design the promotion poster, and Mackey's image of a giant popcorn bucket with festival details on the side was today announced as the winner out of 120 submissions from all over the world.

So who's David Mackey? A native of Tacoma, he's a graduate of Wilson High School and a musician who got into graphic design when he couldn't find anyone else to create his album covers. He now lives in Venaco, Corsica (part of France) but his mom and brother still live in Tacoma. Mackey's design was chosen by The Grand's executive director Philip Cowan and other staff and volunteers, and will be used in promotion material. The award also includes $350, a joint membership to the Grand and festival passes. All other submissions will be displayed in The Grand's foyer area.

"The poster screams 'movies' along with highlighting landmarks of Tacoma and Pierce County," explains Cowan, who's the instigator of the Tacoma Film Festival.

The 2009 Tacoma Film Festival opens October 1 with a 6:30 p.m. reception at the Annie Wright Great Hall followed by the opening night film at the Annie Wright Kemper Theater. Films will continue through October 8 playing at the Grand Cinema, Tacoma Art Museum and the Tacoma School of the Arts. The festival program is scheduled to be ready by Thursday, Sept. 9. For more information visit www.TacomaFilmFestival.com